ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (UNLVRebels.com) -
Fourth-seed UNLV used a dominating defensive performance and two first-half goals to claim a 2-0 victory over fifth-seed Boise State in the first round of the 2011 Mountain West Women's Soccer Championship on Wednesday afternoon at the UNM Soccer Complex. The Rebels (8-9-3) now advance to Friday's semifinal round, and will face the host and top-seeded New Mexico Lobos at 2 pm (PT) in a game televised live by The Mtn. This will be UNLV's eighth appearance in the MW semifinals in the last nine years.

After holding the Broncos (8-11-1) to just five total shots in their last meeting (a 5-0 win in Las Vegas on Oct. 14), UNLV did one better on Wednesday, holding BSU to only four shots for the game. In fact, the shot advantage in the first half was 9-0 in favor of the Rebels, and they cashed in two of the shots for goals. The first came from senior forward Katherine Orellana, who chipped in a shot from 25 yards out that went over the goalie and into the back of the net. That goal, coming in the 19th minute, was Orellana's seventh of the season, which ties for the ninth all-time at UNLV. Brittney Flores and Caitlin Allen both assisted on the goal.

Macy Jo Harrison added to the Rebel lead in the 38th minute, following a shot by Orellana that was blocked and then hit the referee before coming to Harrison, who blasted a shot to the upper left corner of the goal for her third goal of the season, putting UNLV up 2-0. Orellana was credited with an assist on the score.

The Rebels finished with an 11-4 edge on shots, including 8-1 on shots on goal. UNLV also had three corner kicks to two for BSU. Kylie Wassell posted one save in the net to claim her sixth shutout of the year. Liz Ruiz posted six save for the Broncos.